Rolling mill structure



May 29, 1934. DRIEXLER 1,960,900

ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1, ATTORNEY INVENTOR May 29, 1934. E ER 1,960,900

ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 12. 193?. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v v fl ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1934 ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Ernest Drexler, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application November 12, 1932, Serial No. 642,347

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mills of the type comprising spaced rolling stands and interposed conveyor tables for the continuous rolling of metal stock and plates, and has generally in view to provide a thoroughly practical means whereby individual sheets or pieces of stock may be removed from a conveyor or table for a sufiicient length of time for inspection, gauging, temperature changing, or other purposes and subsequently replaced on the table with only relatively minor interruptions to operation of the mill, thereby to secure greater output at less cost than has heretofore been obtained.

With the foregoing general purpose in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure l is a top plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and associated with a conveyor table between two rolling stands of a rolling mill.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 through 39 are diagrammatic views illustrating the progressive steps employed in removing sheets or pieces of stock from and replacing the same on the conveyor table.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating how a reciprocating motion may be imparted to the removed sheets or pieces of stock to avoid localized changes in the temperature conditions thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a controlled temperature zone in combination with the means for removing the stock or sheets from and replacing the same on the conveyor table; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the apparatus illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the practical embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, A, A designate a pair of spaced rolling stands and B a conveyor table interposed between said stands to convey the pieces of stock, sheets or the like, after they have passed between the rolls of one of the stands, or to the other stand for further rolling, which is in accordance with comn practice in the rolling mill art. In this connection the rolling stands and the conveyor table may be of any conventional or preferred types. Preferably, however, the conveyor table is of the type comprising parallel, spaced rollers 10, and while these may be driven in any suitable manner it may be assumed in' the present instance that they contain individual driving motors and that they may be started and stopped at will, which also is in accordance with common practice in the rolling mill art.

Ordinarily the rolls of the stands A and the table rollers 10 rotate continuously, so that the rolling of the stock, sheets or the like is continuous. At times, however, it is necessary or desirable to remove a piece or pieces of stock or a sheet or sheets or the like from the table B for inspection, gauging, temperature changing or for P other purposes, and heretofore this has involved serious interruptions in the operation of the mill, with resulting loss of time and consequent high production costs. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the mill may be operated continuously when it is unnecessary or not desired to remove sheets or the like from the table B, and whereby whenever the removal of a sheet or sheets or the like from the table becomes necessary or desirable, this may be effected, and the sheet, sheets or the like returned to the table, after the elapse of a desired period of time within which the inspection, gauging, temperature changing or the like has been effected, with only relatively minor interruption to the operation of the mill.

Guides 11 are suitably mounted at each side of the table B and have vertically reciprocal therein uprights 12 which, at their upper ends, carry vertically spaced shelves 13 and 14, and which, at their lower ends, carry rollers 15. Extending longitudinally with respect to the table B at each side thereof and underlying the related set of uprights 12 is a shaft 16, and on each shaft 16 are eccentrics 17 on which the rollers of the related uprights rest, whereby rotation of the shafts controls raising and lowering of the shelves. Electric motors 18 are suitably geared to the shafts 16 for effecting their rotation, and motor brakes 19 are provided whereby vertical movements of the tables 13, 14 may be controlled.

Disposed outwardly with respect to each shaft 16 and extending parallel therewith is a shaft 20, and carried by each of these shafts are upwardly extending arms 21 which are connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of tong arms 22 which are horizontally disposed and which are mounted in suitable supports 23 for inward and outward sliding movement relative to the table B. Electric motors 24 are suitably connected to the shafts 20 as, for example, through reduction gearings 25 and cranks and links 26, 27 for rocking said shafts to effect inward and outward movements of the tong arms 22, and, as shown, the respective tong arms 22 have pivoted thereto cooperating tong arms 28 which are suitably electromagnetically controlled. For example, as illustrated in the present instance, each tong arm 28 carries at its outer end a solenoid core 29 operating in a solenoid winding 310 carried by the related tong arm 22 so that when the solenoid is energized the arm 28 is swung to cause its inner end to have gripping cooperation with its related arm 22.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that by operating the motors 18 the shelves 13, 14 at each side of the table B may selectively be brought into the plane of the tops of the table rollers 10, and that by properly operating the motors 24 and the solenoids controlling the tong arms 22, 28, the tong arms may be advanced inwardly to grip a sheet on the table B and to move the sheet outwardly onto a selected shelf. Thus, any individual sheet may be removed from the table B at any desired time and may be replaced on the table simply by reversing the removal operation.

In the normal operation of a rolling mill of the continuous type illustrated the sheets or the like are advanced through the mill each more or less closely following longitudinally the one in ad Vance thereof. Consequently, if only a single sheet should be removed from the table B and if it were intended to replace such sheet on the table, it would be necessary to stop the operation of the mill during the time that the sheet was removed, as otherwise the table would become occupied by the next succeeding sheet. However, by means of the apparatus illustrated it is apparent that four successive sheets may be moved off the table onto the four different shelves 13, 14 and that simultaneously with removal of the fourth sheet the first sheet may be replaced on the table, so that the only interruption to the operation of the mill is during the time that the first three sheets are being removed from the table, which allows ample time, under ordinary operating conditions, for any desired inspection, gauging or treating of a sheet or sheets. Of course, if more time is required, the number of shelves may be increased, and obviously the shelves, regardless of their number, may be employed in any desired sequence to receive the plates. However, it obviously is desirable in this connection to employ the shelves in a sequence which minimizes raising and lowering movements thereof and which reduces to a minimum the period of interruption to operation of the mill during which movement of the sheets between the table B and the shelves is being effected. Accordingly, in a four shelf apparatus as illustrated in the present instance the normal positions of the shelves preferably is as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. That is to say, the lower of the two shelves at one side of the table B and the upper of the two shelves at the other side thereof are disposed in or substantially in the plane of the tops of the table rollers 10.

Assuming now that it is desired to remove a sheet S from the table B, the rotation of the table rollers 10 is stopped and the proper tongs are operated to move said sheet onto the lower of the two shelves first mentioned. This clears the table B for the reception of the next sheet 52 and when the sheet S2 advances to a position where it may be removed from the table it is moved by the tongs at the opposite side of the table onto the upper of the second mentioned pair of shelves. The first mentioned pair of shelves then are lowered and the second mentioned pair of shelves elevated to bring the upper and the lower shelves of said pairs, respectively, into the plane of the tops of the rollers 10 and when the next sheet S3 advances to a position where it may be removed from the table it is moved in the same manner. as the first sheet onto the upper of the pair of shelves first mentioned. In the meantime the desired inspection, gauging, temperature changing or the like of the sheet S can have been completed, so that simultaneously with removal of the next advancing sheet S4 onto the lower of the second mentioned pair of shelves, the sheet S may be moved off its shelf back onto the table B. Thus, with the exception of the loading period represented by Figures 3, 3a, during which the successive sheets S, S2, and S3 are deposited on the shelves, the mill can operate continuously because the transfer of the sheets from the table B to the shelves and from the shelves to the table may readily be effected simultaneously within the normal intervals of time between the arrival of successive sheets onto the table B, each individual sheet obviously being delayed on its shelf from the time it is removed from the table B until the fourth consecutive sheet is removed. To clear all of the shelves it is, of course, necessary to interrupt the advancing sheets for a sufficient period of time to permit the sheets contained on the shelves to be moved onto the table and to be cleared therefrom by the rollers 10.

In order to avoid localized temperature changes in the sheets or the like during the periods of time that they remain on the shelves 13, 14 and as would be likely to occur if the sheets were immovably supported by the shelves, the sheet supporting elements of the shelves preferably comprise parallel, spaced rollers 31 some or all of which are power driven in any suitable manner so that they may be rotated first in one direction and then in the other direction to impart reciprocating motions to the sheets. These rollers may be equipped, for example, with three phase driving motors and a suitable automatic phase reversing contactor 32 may be installed in the current supply lines to said motors as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the result being that under the controlling influence of the contactor 32 the rollers 31 are rotated first in one direction and then in the other direction to reciprocate the plates supported thereon. Rollers of the self -oontained driving motor type and suitablefor use as the rollers 31 in the instant case are illustrated, for example, in my prior patents, Nos. 1,881,267 and 1,889,174. The line contacts between the plates or the like and the rollers have the advantage of minimizing any localized temperature changes in the sheets where the sheets engage the rollers, and because of the lines of contact between the rollers and the plates constantly shifting relative to the plates any 10- oalization of temperature changes in the sheets is substantially avoided.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, casings 33 may be provided to house the shelves 13, 14 and to contain electrical or other heating elements whereby the temperature of the sheets on the shelves may readily be controlled Within the zones defined by said casings. When the casings 33 are employed, openings 34 are provided in the side walls thereof for the passage of the sheets and the tongs into and from the same.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings it is believed that the construction, operation and the advantages of the present apparatus will be clearly understood. It is desired to point out, however, that -While only specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the present instance, the invention is readily capable of embodiment in various other mechanical struc tures within the spirit and the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table onto which a piece of material is adapted to be transferred from the table, and mechanical means for moving a piece of material from the table onto said support and from the support back onto the table, said means comprising a tong arm mounted for reciprocation across the support, means for reciprocating said tong arm, a cooperating tong arm carried by the first mentioned tong arm, and means carried by the first mentioned tong arm to actuate said second mentioned tong arm.

2. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a plurality of vertically spaced vertically movable supports at the side of said table, means for vertically moving said supports to bring them selectively into position to have material transferred thereto from the table, and means for transferring material from the table to said supports and from the supports back to the table.

3. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a plurality of vertically spaced vertically movable supports at each side of the table, means for vertically moving said supports to bring them selectively into position to have material transferred thereto from the table, and means for transferring material from said table to said supports and from said supports back to the table.

4. In combination With the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table, means for transferring material from the table to said support and from the support back onto the table, and means whereby a longitudinal reciprocating motion is imparted to material disposed on the support.

5. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table, means for transferring material from the table rolling mill, a plurality of vertically spaced vertically movable supports at each side of the table, means for vertically moving said supports to bring them selectively into position to have material transferred thereto from the table, said means comprising cams underlying and supporting said supports, and means for transferring material from the table onto said supports and from the supports back onto the table.

7. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table, and means for transferring material from the table onto said support and from said support back onto the table, said means comprising a pair of horizontally disposed cooperating tong arms slidably mounted for lateral movement across the support, means for reciprocating said tong arms, and means carried by one of said tong arms for actuating the other.

8. In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table, and means for transferring material from the table onto said support and from the support back onto the table, said means comprising a pair of tong arms mounted for lateral movement relative to the table and the support, means for laterally moving said tong arms and electromagnetic means carried by one of said tong arms and operatively connected to the other tong arm for opening and closing the tongs.

In combination with the conveyor table of a rolling mill, a support at the side of said table, and means for transferring material from the table onto the support and from the support onto the table, said means comprising a horizontally disposed tong arm slidably mounted for movement across the support, a rockable shaft, a lever connection between said shaft and said tong arm whereby rocking of the shaft reciprooates the tong arm, a second cooperating tong arm pivotably mounted on the first mentioned tong arm, and solenoid means comprising a winding carried by one of the tong arms and a core carried by the other tong arm for effecting pivotal movements of the second mentioned tong arm relative to the first mentioned tong arm.

ERNEST DREXLER. 

